The leu closed at 4.413/4.416 per euro, from 4.433/4.334 per euro Friday.
The national currency opened at 4.424 to the euro and traded near that level for the first half of the session, in a quiet market. In the afternoon, the leu strengthened toward 4.41 versus the euro, with investors showing increased appetite for the national currency.
Market participants said the leu’s evolution was influenced by better-than-expected inflation data which showed the annual rate had eased to 4.41% in July from 5.32% a month earlier, on the back of falling food prices.
The central bank set the leu’s reference at 4.425 to the euro, stronger on the day. Against the US dollar, the leu’s reference lost 0.4% to 3.3292 units.
In the money market, overnight rates were at 1.6%-2.1% a year, from 1.7%-2.2% a year Friday.